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Background: Conflicting results from previous studies on the effect of bronchial challenge on ventilatory patterns in asthmatics may be due to airflow obstruction present before induction of bronchospasm onset, as [...]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that occurs when airways become blocked (obstructed) and then reopen. It is characterized by periods where breathing stops (apnea) followed by periods of rapid breathing (hyperventilation). When airflow to the lungs is blocked and breathing stops, the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood increases (hypercapnia) and the amount of oxygen decreases (hypoxia). This causes hyperventilation, in an is an attempt to return the blood levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen to normal. Therefore, during OSA airflow to the lungs is blocked, and the resulting hypercapnia and hypoxia may act as a stimulus to cause the blocked airways to reopen and induce hyperventilation. To determine if the hypoxia that occurs during apnea plays an important role in setting the rate of breathing following the apnea (postapneic ventilation), 12 male patients with OSA were studied. The effects of breathing different mixtures of air (containing either higher than normal levels of carbon dioxide or reduced levels of oxygen) on breathing pattern was determined. Breathing pattern was measured while patients were asleep and while patients were awake. The results of this study show that as the amount of oxygen in the blood decreases, the rate of breathing increases. This indicates that in patients with OSA the decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood that occurs after apnea plays an important role in the hyperventilation that follows. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Phase change materials (PCMs) absorb and release thermal energy that corresponds to the latent heat absorbed and released during phase changes. Thus, by efficiently utilizing solar heat, they are expected to stabilize the room temperature, resulting in reduced heating loads. The accurate prediction of the energy-saving effect of PCM utilization is important for designing buildings, and it is essential to adequately evaluate the influence of the hysteresis phenomenon, which occurs when the heating and cooling cycles of PCMs are repeated. This study examines the precise calculation modeling of PCMs that demonstrate complex hysteresis behaviors to accurately predict the PCM effect. The proposed approach includes a simple model with two temperature–enthalpy curves, a complex model with multiple curves, and a subcooling model. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified by comparison with the measurement results, and the models can be integrated into a heat load calculation program.

Patients with OSAS (obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome) demonstrate renal signs such as proteinuria, glomerular hypertrophy and focal glomerular sclerosis. We performed a clinical study to investigate the glomerular function in OSAS patients and the short-term effect of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) on it. OSAS patients underwent a sodium thiosulphate and p-aminohippurate double clearance test, polysomnography and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring before and a week after the induction of CPAP. Twenty-seven consecutive patients (24 males) with moderate-to-severe OSAS admitted to our hospital for the induction of CPAP, and 32 healthy donors for renal transplantation as controls participated in the study. Before treatment, the glomerular filtration rate, estimated by the sodium thiosulphate clearance test, was within normal range, and the renal plasma flow was significantly lower than normal in the OSAS patients, thus the FF (filtration fraction) value was much higher than normal. FF before CPAP was not significantly correlated with age, body mass index or blood pressure; however, indices of increased hypoxaemia correlated with increased FF values. Polysomnographic variables after CPAP showed significant improvements in all patients, and only the nocturnal blood pressures were slightly lower than before CPAP. In 21 patients who underwent the clearance test after CPAP, FF significantly decreased from 0.26±0.04 to 0.23±0.03 (P<0.001). OSAS patients were generally in a glomerular-hyperfiltrating condition that appeared to cause the renal findings associated with OSAS. CPAP might prevent nephropathy by ameliorating the glomerular hyperfiltration in OSAS patients.

To confirm nerve preservation during laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection we perform electrostimulation of the lumbar sympathetic nerves relevant to ejaculation. In recent cases we monitored seminal emission using endoscopy of the posterior urethra to observe the response to stimulation.

Two types of transitional bladder carcinoma have been distinguished based on macroscopic morphology: type A papillary carcinomas, with papillomatous surface outgrowth without infiltration into muscular layer, and type B nodular carcinomas, with a nonpapillomatous surface appearance, most of which display infiltrative growth through muscular layer, and some of which display lymphatic or blood-borne metastasis. However, there is no specific predictor at early stages for later invasive and metastatic clinical outcome of patients with type B tumors. The study included 1) glycosphingolipid (GSL) composition of type A and B tumors; 2) histologic and immunohistologic patterns of nodular (type B) bladder carcinoma from 44 patients based on a special sampling procedure termed whole-layer core biopsy (WLCB) using the antisialosyl-Le^x (anti-SLe^x; SLe^x: NeuAcα3Galβ4[Fucα3]GlcNAcβ3Galβ4GlcCer) SNH3 antibody or other antibodies; 3) comparison of the incidence of metastasis in patients with SNH3 positive versus SNH3 negative primary tumors and of 5-year survival curves; 4) comparison of bladder carcinoma cell lines from tumors with high versus low malignancy in terms of expression patterns of SLe^x, SLe^a, and other carbohydrates, E-selectin dependent adhesion, and transcript levels of five fucosyltransferases. Anti-SLe^x monoclonal antibody (mAb) SNH3 staining of WLCB samples from 44 type B tumors showed that the majority of tumors (n = 31 patients) were SNH3 positive and the minority (n = 13 patients) were SNH3 negative. SNH3 positive patients had more lymph node or blood-borne metastasis and lower 5-year and 7-year survival rates, as indicated by Kaplan–Meier curves (P = 0.001). Staining of samples with other antibodies, including FH6 and CA19-9, was not correlated with long-term survival. Determination of GSL composition in extracts showed that SLe^x ganglioside was present in all three patients with nodular tumors but absent in all three patients with papillary tumors tested. Bladder carcinoma cell lines from invasive tumors that maintained their metastatic properties were SNH3 positive, showed high levels of α1,3-fucosyltransferase VI (FT-VI) and FT-VII, and displayed E-selectin dependent adhesion. Cell lines from noninvasive tumors or normal bladder epithelia were negative for SNH3 reactivity, FT-VI, and FT-VII, and E-selectin dependent adhesion. SLe^x expression in primary bladder carcinoma, defined by the mAb SNH3, is a predictor of invasive and metastatic outcome. No other carbohydrate epitope examined to date has equal prognostic value. Cancer 2002;94:673–85. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10268

Glycolipids were extracted from primary bladder tumors of 14 patients and 2 normal counterparts. Their expression pattern was assessed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The most remarkable change was massive accumulation of GM3 in superficial bladder tumors compared with invasive tumors. This change was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry using anti-GM3 monoclonal antibody. The activities of glycosyltransferases responsible for GM3 synthesis (GM3 synthase, Gb3 synthase and GD3 synthase) were consistent with upregulated expression of GM3 in superficial tumors. It was suggested that the marked GM3 accumulation in superficial tumors was caused not only by upregulated GM3 synthase but also by downregulated activities of Gb3 and GD3 synthase. Histopathologic examination revealed an inverse correlation of the amount of GM3 expressed with invasive potential. Exogenously supplemented GM3 suppressed invasion potential in human bladder tumor cell lines (T-24, KK-47). These results indicate that the amount of GM3 expressed may serve as an indicator of the invasion potential of bladder tumor. Furthermore, new antiinvasion therapeutics may be possible by administration of GM3. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Previous studies indicate that expression of higher gangliosides in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is correlated with metastatic potential, particularly in the lung. Out of five major gangliosides in RCC, three disialogangliosides (disialogalactosylgloboside, IV3NeuAcIII6NeuAcLc4, and IV4GalNAcIV3NeuAcIII6NeuAcLc4) bind strongly to siglec7, which is expressed highly in monocytes and natural killer cells. Out of other gangliosides tested, 2→6 sialylparagloboside, GD3, GD2, and GT1b, but not other lacto- or ganglio-series gangliosides, showed clear binding to siglec7. In view of preferential metastasis of RCC to the lung, and binding of RCC cell line TOS-1 to lung tissue sections as shown in our previous study, we examined expression of siglec7 in the lung. siglec7 is expressed highly in resident blood cells, but not in parenchymatous cells. TOS-1 cells aggregate together strongly through adhesion with peripheral blood mononuclear cells to form large clumps. This suggests the possibility that such aggregates may form embolisms of microvasculature, particularly in the lung, which initiate metastasis. Other possible roles of higher gangliosides in RCC in promoting metastasis and tumor progression are discussed.

In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the level of higher gangliosides is correlated with degree of metastatic potential, and cell lines derived from metastatic deposits of RCC are characterized by high expression of disialogangliosides (Saito, S., Orikasa, S., Ohyama, C., Satoh, M., and Fukushi, Y. (1991) Int. J. Cancer49, 329–334 and Saito, S., Orikasa, S., Satoh, M., Ohyama, C., Ito, A., and Takahashi, T. (1997) Jpn. J. Cancer Res.(Gann) 88, 652–659). We now report two disialogangliosides, G1 and G2, found in the RCC cell line TOS-1. G1 from TOS-1 cells was characterized as having a novel hybrid structure between ganglio-series (region I as in Structure FTI; same as the terminal structure of ganglioside GM2), and the lacto-series type 1 (region II). The characterization was based on reactivity with various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with defined epitope specificity, as well as monosaccharide and fatty acid component analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of the intact compound. G1 showed strong reactivity with mAb RM2, raised originally against TOS-1 cells, and weak cross-reactivity with anti-GM2 mAb MK-1–8. The antigen is hereby termed GalNAc disialosyl Lc4Cer (IV4GalNAcIV3NeuAcIII6NeuAcLc4; abbreviated GalNAcDSLc4). G2 was identified by1H NMR and mass spectrometry as having a structure similar to Structure FTI but without the GalNAcβ1→4 substitution and showed strong reactivity with mAb FH9 reported previously to be specific for disialosyl lacto-series type 1 (disialosyl Lc4) having vicinal α2→3 and α2→6 sialosyl residues, an antigen associated with human colonic cancer. Clinicopathological studies indicate that expression of these disialoganglioside antigens in RCC tissue is correlated with the metastatic potential of RCC.

1To determine the magnitude and time course of changes in respiratory motor output caused by non‐chemical influences, six sleeping subjects underwent assist‐control mechanical ventilation (ACMV) at increased tidal volume (VT). During ACMV, end‐tidal PCO2(PET,CO2) was either held at normocapnic levels (PET,CO2, 0·6‐1·1 mmHg > control) by adding CO2to the inspirate, or it was allowed to fall (hypocapnia).2Each sleeping subject underwent several repeat trials of twenty‐five ACMV breaths (VT, 1·3 or 2·1 times control; peak flow rate, 30‐40 l min−1; inspiratory time, ± 0·3 s of control). The end‐tidal to arterial PCO2difference throughout normocapnic ACMV at raised VTwas unchanged from eupnoeic levels during studies in wakefulness.3Normocapnic ACMV at both the smaller and larger increases in VTdecreased the amplitude of respiratory motor output, as judged by decreased maximum rate of rise of mask pressure (Pm) (mean dPm/dtmax,46‐68 % of control), reduced diaphragmatic EMG (to 55 % of control) and reduced VTon the first spontaneous breath after ACMV (to 70 % of control). Expiratory time (TE) was slightly prolonged (13‐32 % > control). This inhibition of amplitude of respiratory motor output progressed over the first five to seven ventilator cycles, was maintained over the remaining 18‐20 cycles and persisted for three to five spontaneous breaths immediately following cessation of ACMV.4Hypocapnia did not further inhibit respiratory motor output amplitude beyond the effect of normocapnic ACMV at high VT, but did cause highly variable prolongation of TEwhen PET,CO2was reduced by greater than 3 mmHg for at least five ventilator cycles.5These data in sleeping humans support the existence of a significant, non‐chemical inhibitory influence of ACMV at increased VTand positive pressure upon the amplitude of respiratory motor output; this effect is manifested both during and following normocapnic mechanical ventilation.

1We utilized a chronically tracheostomized, unanaesthetized dog model to study the reflex effects on inspiratory motor output of low‐amplitude, high‐frequency pressure oscillations (HFPOs) applied to the isolated upper airway (UA) during stable non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.2HFPOs (30 Hz and ±2 to ±4 cmH2O) were applied via a piston pump during eupnoea, inspiratory resistive loading and tracheal occlusion.3When applied to the patent UA during expiration, and especially during late expiration, HFPOs prolonged expiratory time (TE) and tonically activated the genioglossus muscle EMG. When applied to the patent UA during inspiration, HFPOs caused tonic activation of the genioglossus muscle EMG and inhibition of inspiratory motor output by either: (a) a shortening of inspiratory time (TI), as inspiration was terminated coincident with the onset of HFPOs; or (b) a prolonged TIaccompanied by a decreased rate of rise of diaphragm EMG and rate of fall of tracheal pressure. These effects of HFPOs were observed during eupnoea and inspiratory resistive loading, but were maximal during tracheal occlusion where the additional inhibitory effects of lung inflation reflexes were minimized.4During eupnoea, topical anaesthesia of the UA abolished the HFPO‐induced prolongation of TE, suggesting that the response was mediated primarily by mechanoreceptors close to the mucosal surface; whereas the TE‐prolonging effects of a sustained square wave of negative pressure (range, ‐4·0 to ‐14·9 cmH2O) sufficient to close the airway were preserved following anaesthesia.5These results demonstrate that high‐frequency, low‐amplitude oscillatory pressure waves in the UA, similar to those found in snoring, produce reflex inhibition of inspiratory motor output. This reflex may help maintain UA patency by decreasing the collapsing pressure generated by the inspiratory pump muscles and transmitted to the UA.

Glycolipids were biochemically extracted from 14 specimens of seminoma, 2 of testicular malignant lymphoma (both of which were difficult to differentiate from seminoma with a high mitotic index) and 4 of normal testicle. The pattern of their expression was compared. Marked accumulation of globotriaosyl ceramide was observed in seminoma but it was present in a small amount in testicular malignant lymphoma. Differentiation between seminoma and malignant lymphoma is sometimes difficult by histopathological findings but it is considered to be greatly facilitated by examination of the pattern of glycolipid expression.

Gangliosides have been shown to be involved in development, differentiation, oncogenesis, and cancer progression. We investigated immunohistochemical expression of globo‐series gangliosides in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and whether their expression is related to the clinical course. The expression of globo‐series gangliosides was evaluated in fresh‐frozen sections of 55primary renal tumors and 8 metastatic deposits using monoclonal antibodies RM1 and RM2, which define mono‐sialosyl and disialosyl galactosylgloboside, respectively. The immunorcaetivity of primary tumors to RM1 and/or RM2 was correlated with the clinicopathological data. Cumulative incidence of metastasis detected at initial diagnosis and during the follow‐up period was significantly higher in the cases whose primary tumors were RMl/RM2‐positive (RM1 and/or RM2‐positive) than in the RM1/ RM2‐negative (neither RM1 nor RM2‐positive) cases (P<0.05). During the follow‐up period, metastasis developed in none of the RMl/RM2‐negative cases which had not shown metastasis at initial diagnosis. High nuclear grade was observed only in the RMl/RM2‐positive cases. The RM1/RM2‐positive rate of the metastatic deposits was higher than that of the primary tumors. Furthermore, a metastatic deposit obtained from one of the cases whose primary tumors were equivocal for RM1/ RM2 was extensively stained by RM1 and RM2. These results indicate that globo‐series gangliosides may be one of the biochemical indicators related to the metastatic potential of human RCC.

The reaction of diisopropyl (Z)-(1-bromo-1-alkenyl)boronates readily obtainable, with organolithiums and bases takes place readily to give (E)-(1-organo-1-alkenyl)boronates, the cross-coupling of which with various organic halides proceeds smoothly in the presence of Pd-catalyst and base to afford stereodefined trisubstituted alkenes in good yields.

BackgroundRecently, it has been reported that upregulation of the oligosaccharide sialyl Lex(SLex) in prostate cancer is associated with hormone‐resistant, aggressive disease. However, it is not clear that SLexexpressed on prostate cancer cells has a biological function related to metastatic potential.

The effects of focused high energy shock waves (SW) on the implanted urinary bladder cancer in rabbits were examined. The bladder cancer was exposed to 2000 to 8000 shots of focused SW under ultrasound guidance. Although only focal necrosis of the tumor was seen in the one day SW exposure, wider and deeper tumor necrosis was observed in the tumors following serial SW (2000 to 6000 shots, for two to three days). Eight to 10 day serial SW exposure (6000 to 8000 shots) decreased the tumor growth in comparison with that of the control. Lung metastases examined by periodic chest X-ray after SW treatment revealed that SW did not promote lung metastases. Pathological findings were also in accord with the X-ray examinations. Polyclonal antibody type 4 collagen was used for immunohistochemical staining of vascular wall in bladder cancer. Vascular wall destruction, not found in spontaneous necrotic tumor, were clearly visible in SW induced necrotic area. SW induces vascular damage in the tumor, which may be the primary cause promoting the tumor necrosis.

The influence of gas desorption from fluorine-doped silicon oxide (SiOF) film prepared by high-density-plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) upon TiN/Ti film is investigated. In this investigation, two types of SiOF films, containing 14% and 6% fluorine atoms, are compared with regard to gas desorption and diffusion of fluorine, hydrogen and oxygen atoms into TiN/Ti film on SiOF film, as-deposited on TiN/Ti/SiOF film and after 400°C annealing. In addition, W film was prepared on TiN/Ti/SiOF film in order to examine the practical effect of gas desorption upon adhesion between Ti film and SiOF film. Thermal desorption mass spectroscopy (TDS) and secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) spectral studies clarified the following. (1) SiOF film containing 14% fluorine atoms has a high hydrogen-fluoride content due to moisture absorption after exposure to air, while that containing 6% fluorine atoms does not. (2) During deposition of TiN/Ti film at 200°C, many fluorine and hydrogen atoms diffuse from SiOF film containing 14% fluorine atoms and are trapped within the Ti film or the Ti/SiOF interface. (3) During 400°C annealing, more fluorine atoms diffuse from SiOF film containing 14% fluorine atoms and are also trapped within the Ti film. (4) Fluorine atoms trapped within the Ti film degrade the adhesion between Ti film and SiOF film.

Fluorine-doped silicon oxide (SiOF) film prepared by biased helicon plasma chemical vapor deposition with SiF4and O2is characterized. In this characterization, the SiOF film is compared with that prepared using a nonbiased plasma. SiOF films prepared using a biased plasma are stable in air. Whereas films prepared using a nonbiased plasma are not stable in air and the relative dielectric constant and stress vary in the ranges 3.2 to 3.5 and from -35 MPa to 0 MPa, respectively. Analysis Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and thermal desorption mass spectroscopy (TDS) spectra, clarifies the following. (1) Si-F bonds are formed in SiOF films prepared using a biased plasma. (2) Not only Si-F bonds but also F-Si-F bonds are formed in SiOF films prepared using a nonbiased plasma. (3) The F-Si-F bond structure formed in SiOF films absorbs water easily.

Fluorine-doped silicon oxide (SiOF) films, prepared by high-density-plasma chemical vapor deposition, are investigated as to the effect of bond structure on water absorption. In this investigation, two kinds of SiOF films, containing 12% and 8% fluorine atoms, were compared with regard to the change in their bond structure before and after accelerated water absorption. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, thermal desorption mass spectroscopy (TDS) spectra and Raman spectra studies clarified the following. (1) The SiOF film which contains 12% fluorine atoms has more Si-F bonds than that containing 8% fluorine atoms, but it has fewer 3-fold rings. (2) The SiOF film which contains 8% fluorine atoms absorbs little water, and its Si-F bond does not change after water absorption. (3) The 3-fold ring of the SiOF film which contains 12% fluorine atoms has an unstable F-Si-O-Si bond structure. (4) The F-Si-O-Si bond structure of the 3-fold ring is easily changed to the F-Si-OH and Si-OH bond structures due to hydration, upon water absorption.

Epitaxial growth of 1-2-3 superconductor films is reported on a new substrate material that possesses desirable dielectric properties. Magnetron-sputtered EuBa2Cu3O7-yfilms on YAlO3(001) show excellent properties with a Tcof 91 K. Films are epitaxially grown with the c-axis oriented normal to the surface, and the a- and b-axes ordered in the plane. The high-frequency (50 GHz) surface resistance of a film is 2 m? at 30 K. The dielectric constant of YAlO3is 16. The dielectric loss tangent at 10 GHz is as low as 7.3×10-5at 300 K and 2×10-6at 40 K. YAlO3-based films have considerable potential for high-frequency application.

Fluorine-doped silicon oxide (SiOF) films, prepared using biased helicon-plasma chemical vapor deposition, are investigated to clarify the relationship between their bond structures and electrical properties. For this purpose, C-Vcharacteristics, I-Vcharacteristics, FT-IR and Raman spectra were measured. In this investigation, two kinds of SiOF films prepared with SiF4flow ratios of 0.5 and 1.0 were compared. The SiOF film prepared with a SiF4flow ratio of 0.5 has a low leakage current and its relative dielectric constant is 3.6, whereas the film prepared with a SiF4flow ratio of 1.0 has a high leakage current and its relative dielectric constant is 3.2. FT-IR and Raman spectra studies clarify the following: (1) The SiOF film with a low leakage current contains Si-F bonds, as well as 3-fold or 4-fold rings. (2) The SiOF film with a high leakage current contains F-Si-F bonds or near-neighbor Si-F bonds in addition to Si-F bonds, but it does not contain 3-fold or 4-fold rings.